Garrett's looking for a ring

Jeremy Kenny

10/19/2008

After switching his commitment from Mississippi State to LSU back in March, Chris Garrett has managed to keep a relatively low profile. Even half way through his senior year, you don't hear much from Garrett despite leading his team to a 6-2 record and putting up eye popping numbers along the way.

One reason you don’t hear much from Garrett is because he likes to keep a low profile. Well, at least off the field because on the gridiron everyone knows who Garrett is.

The Tupelo (Miss.) product is a nemesis to opposing defensive coordinators and is having a stellar senior campaign, completing 62 percent of his passes, with 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

He worked hard over the summer to take his game to another level and the countless hours spent on the practice field and in the weight room has paid off for Garrett, but he knows there is always more he can work on.

“I wanted to get my completion percentage up and interceptions down, and that’s working so far,” Garrett said. “I’m working on stepping up in the pocket and moving my feet. And I wanted to be a better leader on the field and be more vocal because I’m kind of a laid back person.”

The strong start to his senior season has helped Garrett set several new school records at Tupelo, including career completions, passing yards, and touchdown passes.

When he’s not on the field setting records and leading his team to victory, Garrett (6-4, 220) remains busy, making sure he takes care of everything needed to enroll at LSU in January.

“School is going good, although it’s kind of tough right now,” said Garrett, who projects as a full academic qualifier. “I’m working on getting my last English out of the way so I can enroll early. I believe my GPA is a 3.5 and my ACT is an 18. I’m going to be taking the SAT on Nov. 1 too just to try and get it higher.”

Between school, practices, and games during the week, Garrett relishes his time off on the weekends and uses it to sit back and watch some games, either on television or in Tiger Stadium.

“The weekends are always fun. I just sit back and watch college football,” he said. “I went to the Appalachian State and North Texas games. My official visit will be next weekend and then I’m taking my brother to the Alabama game.

“He goes to Mississippi State and I want to show him how the big dogs do it,” Chris said with a laugh. “I’ll be bringing a friend to the Ole Miss game too.”

Having attended two of the first three home games in person, and with plans to attend several more, Garrett likes what he has seen so far from the Tigers.

“The season is going great,” he said. “Mark my words right now; they are going to the SEC Championship Game. We already have reservations in Atlanta. Florida was just one of those nights where nothing was working. I think they’re out to prove something now.

“Charles Scott is a beast,” Garrett continued. “Jarrett Lee is a redshirt freshman still, and people need to lay off of him. He just needs experience and coach Crowton is a genius. His play calling is great.”

When offensive coordinator Gary Crowton isn’t putting his genius on display calling plays in the booth, he’s checking in with Garrett to see how things are going.

“Coach Crowton came by the school to see me earlier this year, and he called last Thursday,” said the 3-star signal caller. “He said he was thinking about me and wanted to talk to me. He asks how my family is doing, and tells me to keep working hard and be ready for when I come in January.

“We talk about once every three weeks,” Garrett continued. “They don’t have to call me too much and they know that. They need to focus on getting other guys that haven’t committed yet.”

Besides LSU, Garrett said a few other schools are still trying to recruit him, but he’s having none of it.

“Mississippi State and Alabama have been by the school,” he said. “I still hear from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Stanford, and a lot from Arizona State. But I don’t even open those letters. I know where I’m going.”

Often times when a player has a standout senior season to finish off an impeccable high school career the way Garrett has, the postseason all-star games are lining up at his doorstep trying to get him to play in their games.

But, Garrett is having none of that either.

“I’m not going to be playing in any all-star games,” he said. “I’ve gotten nomination things from the Army game and the UnderArmour game, but even if they were to pick me I wouldn’t play. After I finish high school in December I’m just focused on LSU.”

“The weekends are always fun. I just sit back and watch college football,” he said. “I went to the Appalachian State and North Texas games. My official visit will be next weekend and then I’m taking my brother to the Alabama game.

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“He goes to Mississippi State and I want to show him how the big dogs do it,” Chris said with a laugh. “I’ll be bringing a friend to the Ole Miss game too.”

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Having attended two of the first three home games in person, and with plans to attend several more, Garrett likes what he has seen so far from the Tigers.

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“The season is going great,” he said. “Mark my words right now; they are going to the SEC Championship Game. We already have reservations in Atlanta. Florida was just one of those nights where nothing was working. I think they’re out to prove something now.

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“Charles Scott is a beast,” Garrett continued. “Jarrett Lee is a redshirt freshman still, and people need to lay off of him. He just needs experience and coach Crowton is a genius. His play calling is great.”

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When offensive coordinator Gary Crowton isn’t putting his genius on display calling plays in the booth, he’s checking in with Garrett to see how things are going.

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“Coach Crowton came by the school to see me earlier this year, and he called last Thursday,” said the 3-star signal caller. “He said he was thinking about me and wanted to talk to me. He asks how my family is doing, and tells me to keep working hard and be ready for when I come in January.

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“We talk about once every three weeks,” Garrett continued. “They don’t have to call me too much and they know that. They need to focus on getting other guys that haven’t committed yet.”

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Besides LSU, Garrett said a few other schools are still trying to recruit him, but he’s having none of it.

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“Mississippi State and Alabama have been by the school,” he said. “I still hear from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Stanford, and a lot from Arizona State. But I don’t even open those letters. I know where I’m going.”

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Often times when a player has a standout senior season to finish off an impeccable high school career the way Garrett has, the postseason all-star games are lining up at his doorstep trying to get him to play in their games.

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But, Garrett is having none of that either.

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“I’m not going to be playing in any all-star games,” he said. “I’ve gotten nomination things from the Army game and the UnderArmour game, but even if they were to pick me I wouldn’t play. After I finish high school in December I’m just focused on LSU.”